Summer Break

I'm taking a bit of a hiatus for the next few weeks. We're enjoying some family time, then moving my girl to college, followed by some 25th anniversary celebrating for my man and me. I'll be checking in and posting intermittently but not on a regular basis until after Labor Day.

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Rollin' Down the Hodgepodge

1. Have you learned more from success or failure? Explain.

I try to learn a lot from other people's failures.

2. What did you call your grandparents when you were growing up? If you have children, what do they call your parents? If you have grandchildren, what do they call you?

I called my grandparents Grandmother and Granddaddy. When we talked about them at home, to distinguish between them we would say the last name, such as "When are we going to see Grandmother Smith?" My kids called both sets Grandmommy and Granddaddy, eventually shortening to Grandmom and Granddaddy.

3. You're invited to a luau. In keeping with that theme, what dish will you bring to share?

Probably a fruit salad.

4. Besides Jesus, what one person's life story do you think everyone should know about?

Oh, these kind of questions always make me draw a blank. There are lots of folks who have had a big impact on those around them. Of course, there are the obvious political choices: Washington, Lincoln, MLK, etc. One who popped in my mind is Corrie Ten Boom. Another is Billy Graham. And Fanny Crosby, the hymn writer.

5. "Don't sweat the small stuff." Agree or Disagree? Why?

Mostly agree except that it results in the pendulum swinging the other way and people tend to blow off the small stuff. Attention to detail matters.

6. June is National Rivers Month. When were you last on a river? What's the prettiest river you've ever seen? What's a river you'd like to see?

I'm not on rivers too often. Maybe in 2009 when we were on vacation in Tennessee. I haven't seen too many "pretty" rivers; most of them tend to be pretty murky. I've always wanted to see the Mississippi.

7. Speaking of rivers-paddling, fishing, swimming, or bird watching safely from the shore? Which activity would you choose? Yes-you have to choose.

Why isn't a riverboat dinner cruise listed?! That's my pick! Otherwise, I'm more with enjoying the view from the shore.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Summertime and the living is easy at our house! We had a fun weekend with graduation and various parties/open houses to attend, and now my girl is loving the fact that for the first time since sixth grade, she has a summer completely free of any school work! No AP English summer reading projects/reports, no dual-credit college courses. She is footloose and fancy-free!

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Today is the Day!

My girl is so excited and we're going to have a great day!

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Wednesday Hodgepodge Freshness is Guaranteed!

It's Wednesday and time to join Joyce for the weekly Hodgepodge.

1. What question do you often ask yourself?

Which book in my stack scheduled to be reviewed first?

2. Do you grow roses? What's your favorite color of rose? Ever been given a dozen roses? Where was the prettiest rose or rose garden you remember seeing?

I don't grow roses. My favorite ones are yellow roses, and those were what we used in our wedding. My man has brought me a dozen roses several times. My favorites were my wedding bouquet, a mixture of yellow and white roses.

3. Do you read the freshness dates on grocery store products? Will you use eggs past their 'use by' date? Take medication that's expired? Buy a dented can?

I absolutely read the dates. I don't always use eggs by their dates, but I don't let them linger long. I am quick to toss most other things when they are past the date. I do use a little more discretion when it's a "sell by" vs. a "use by" date.

4. Should athletes be role models?

It's fine for them to be role models for athletics - for demonstrating how practice and perseverance pays off. I don't see why they should necessarily be role models for life or politics or anything else. (Same with celebrities, especially with politics. Why is it that just because someone makes a living as an actor or an actress or a talk show host, people think that person has more credibility in taking political stands?)

5. Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal became the first explorers to reach the top of Mt. Everest on this date (May 29) back in 1953. What's something you hope to achieve in your lifetime?

Answering all of Joyce's questions. And learning all the ins and outs of my new phone.

6. What would you do if you had twenty acres of land and the money to develop it any way you choose?

I have no idea, but if you want to give the land and the money to me, I'll be glad to research this question!

7. If I invite you to a party with a 7 PM start time, what time will I actually see you there?

A few minutes before 7:00. Unless my man is invited, then we'll probably be there about 7:05. But if it's up to me, I'll always be 5 minutes early. Remember, on time is the same as being late!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Friday's the big day! Cue up Pomp and Circumstance. As my girl has been saying about everything else this week, "Today is the last Wednesday Hodgepodge that I will have a school-age child."

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Wednesday Hodgepodge

Welcome to another week of the Hodgepodge! I always enjoy this mid-week energy boost! Thanks, Joyce

1. It's National Bike Week...do you own a bicycle? When did you last ride a bike?

I think my bicycle is still in the garage, but I haven't ridden since my kids were in elementary school.

2. What's something you learned in school that wasn't part of the curriculum?

That the "rich and beautiful" are often favored over the others.

3. What's a food you've never tried, but want to try? What's a food you've tried and will never try again?

I'm not particularly adventurous with foods, so I can't think of one I'm wanting to try. I've tasted both rattlesnake and alligator and I will be perfectly happy never to have them again. I also don't like venison.

4. Have you been more demanding on yourself lately or less? Why? Do you think that's a good trend?

A bit less, just because this has been such an emotionally draining spring due to my brother's sudden death, my sister's Alzheimer's, and my girl's pending graduation, to name just a few. I really have let some things go and have tried not to be Super Woman. It's a good trend in some ways; in others, notsomuch!

5. Who is your favorite book, movie, or TV show villain?

This is a hard one because villains usually get on my last nerve! I guess from a TV show, I'd say Q from Star Trek.

6. How concerned are you about identity theft?

Concerned enough that I'm careful, but not so concerned that I'm paranoid.

7. I saw this last question on Dawn's blog a couple of week's ago and asked if I could share. Everybody hop over and say hi, but first answer this...would you rather have an ordinary home in an extraordinary place or an extraordinary home in an ordinary place?

I'm thankful to have a home that it hasn't been ripped from its foundation. Ordinary is good enough for me for the home and the place!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm aching for the families in Oklahoma who have lost so much in the tornadoes. Praying God will wrap them in His arms and hold them close!

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Senior Sunday Song - for All of Us!

Yesterday was Senior Sunday at our church. . .and I think at every other church that I've heard about! LOL It's always a fun time to recognize and celebrate the graduating high school seniors. This year was a bit more poignant for me since my girl is one of the seniors! But I managed to just soak in and enjoy the special things they had planned for the seniors and their families during the breakfast, the Bible Study hour, and during the recognition in the worship service, and I didn't shed a tear!

One of the highly anticipated parts of this celebration is the video that our Youth Pastor puts together utilizing four or five pictures of each senior that the families have submitted. It's always fun to see the pictures of each of the kids as babies and throughout the years. And the big mystery is "what song will he use?" Some years, it has been an obvious choice - and a tear jerker! - such as the year Mark Harris had released Find Your Wings. I had even asked the Youth Pastor about it a couple of weeks ago, and he wasn't sure at that time what song he would use. Well, he found the perfect song, and I've posted it below. Not the video of our kids; I'm not putting that on the web, but you can mentally substitute pictures of your own kids or the teens in your church as you listen. Or just take this song for your own. It fits whether we are 18 or 48. I love Casting Crowns, and this is such a powerful reminder that God already knows our tomorrows!

When I'm lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory

‘Cause You're already there
You're already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You're already there
You're already there

Knowing that He's already there makes it so much easier to deal with my girl graduating and heading off to college!

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May Day! Hodgepodge

1. This week's Hodgepodge is Volume 123. What's something you've done recently that was as easy as 1-2-3?

Took my girl to early college registration and then we met her roommate! It was a great trip without any hassles and so much fun!

2. The Wednesday Hodgepodge also happens to fall on the first day of May ...what is something you may do this month?

I may get a little bit teary, either on Senior Sunday at church or when my girl graduates!

3. The Englishman Horace Walpole is credited as saying, "The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think" How do you see it?

I'm not a "woe is me" type, but I was saying just last night that I feel like we're living in Jeremiah's days all over again:

"Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?
No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush."
Jeremiah 6:14

4. May is National Hamburger Month...how often do you eat a burger? What are your must-haves when it comes to burgers? I assume you vegetarians won't be celebrating so tell us what you'd like instead?

I love hamburgers - real ones, not fast food burgers. I don't eat them as often as I'd like because they aren't that healthy and my girl's not crazy about them. I love a good Angus beef burger at a restaurant or to grill one at home; I usually get the 96% lean meat. My fave way to have it is with some type of white cheese such as provolone, jack, pepper jack, or swiss (NOT bleu cheese!), crispy bacon, tomatoes, lettuce and a tad of purple onion. Oh and mayo. And a toasted bun. Nothing ruins a hamburger more than a cold bun straight from the package. Except maybe mustard.

5. Pansies, petunias, geraniums, impatiens...of the four mentioned, which is your favorite in a patio pot? Will there be pots on your patio this spring? (Or whenever spring comes to your part of the globe?) Who does the gardening at your house?

I have a black thumb and am woefully challenged in the gardening department. We don't really have a garden at our house.

6. When did you last (literally or figuratively) shout "Mayday, Mayday!"

When I typed the title of this post.

7. Say farewell to your April in ten words or less.

See you next year.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I know a lot of people dread May because it's such a busy month with all the end-of-school activities, but I am going to savor each one! We're starting off with a bang with Senior Awards tonight, NHS senior stoling ceremony tomorrow morning, and the Top Ten luncheon Friday. This month is going to fly by!

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Spoiler Alert: Wednesday Hodgepodge Ahead!

1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen's English...here's the list for 2013-

fiscal cliff, kick the can down the road, double down, job creators/creation, passion/passionate, yolo (an acronym for you only live once), spoiler alert, bucket list, trending, superfood, boneless wings, and guru

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why. Go here to read more about how the words were chosen.

Most of the time, it's not so much the words/phrases themselves that I hate; it's the overuse. (Although some of them are just bad grammar, like double down!) I'm pretty sick of fiscal cliff. And YOLO.

2. When was the last time you rode a train? Where did you go?

A real train was a few years ago when we were on vacation in Tennessee, I think it was. Seems like it was about a 30-45 minute ride. We weren't going anywhere; it was an old railroad tour.

3. Bagels-yay or nay? Favorite 'flavor'? Favorite topping?

Yes. Plain or cinnamon raisin, toasted, with regular cream cheese.

4. 'Tis the season of awards shows...if you could star in a movie already made which one would you choose?

The Sound of Music, of course!

5. The move towards single gender classrooms has been making the news in recent months....what say you? Do you think kids perform better if separated by gender and are taught differently or is that discrimination? If you're a parent, is this something you'd support in regard to your own children?

I think people spend an awful lot of energy coming up with gimmicks to change the education system instead of just making sure the teachers actually teach something. I am pretty amazed that I have a senior in high school that hasn't been taught some pretty basic things. There's no time to teach because they have to test and meet a bunch of silly criteria.

6. What's your favorite thing about staying in a hotel?

Breakfast. And clean sheets and towels.

7. Do you have a 'word' for 2013? What's the story behind your choice?

No, I don't do resolutions, words, or any of that.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

YOLO is bad enough but my girl was really horrified last week when she came home with the packet to order her graduation gown and they had all the other junk options the students could order. "Who came up with all this YOGO stuff? What do they mean, You Only Graduate Once?! I'm going to graduate from college! And I graduated from preschool and elementary and middle school!" One whole page was full of YOGO products - T-shirts, backpack, "a YOGO slap bracelet?! Do they think we're five years old?!"

Apologies to any of you whose child might have ordered some of this stuff, but I was pretty impressed that she recognizes that her high school graduation is not the pinnacle of her life!

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A Tropical Wednesday Hodgepodge

The Wednesday Hodgepodge has a punch to it this week. . . Hawaiian, that is! (Sorry, couldn't resist!) Read my answers to Joyce's questions and then head over her blog and join the fun!

1. Aloha! On August 21, 1959 Hawaii officially became a US state. Have you ever been? Upon arrival would you prefer an orchid or a hibiscus to tuck behind your ear?

I've never been to Hawaii. It would be fun to go, but it's actually not at the top of my list. As for the preferred flower, it's a toss-up. Probably a hibiscus. I like the fuschia/purplish colors.

2. Since we're talking tropical...what's your favorite food or beverage made with pineapple?

I love fresh pineapple just by itself and on pizza!

3. Do you believe in soul mates? Explain.

Well, with regards to shoes, yes, but I guess that would be sole mates! :-)

That's such a New Age-y term, but I do think that we do connect on a deeper level with some people more than others. And the Holy Spirit in us recognizes and responds to the Holy Spirit in others and that forges a bond that is absent in relationships with non-believers.

4. Share a memory about the house you grew up in.

It was tiny, but I never realized how tiny until I was an adult. My parents raised four kids in a house that was about 1100 s.f. It was our normal, so we didn't think anything about it. And back in the 60's people didn't have all the "stuff" we have today.

5. Are you comfortable with silence?

I was tempted just to leave a blank space for this one! Yes, silence is perfectly fine me. Sometimes I prefer it!

6. You spot a giant spider on your bedroom wall...what's your next move? (all spiders are giant, right?)

Grab a shoe or yell for my man!

7. My idea of fun does NOT include ______________.

. . .anything requiring athletic ability.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Today is my girl's 17th birthday! She starts her senior year in high school on Monday. I miss my precious baby, but a sweet young lady with a heart for God and others has taken her place!

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Leaving on a Jet Plane!

I am so excited. We have planned this for months, and today my girl and I will fly to Germany! It is our first time to cross the Atlantic Ocean and we are looking forward to a great visit with GG and her family. (GG is the exchange student who lived with our family during the 2010-2011 school year.)

There will still be occasional posts on my blog over the next couple of weeks while we're gone but the blog will be on semi-hiatus.

See you soon!

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The Beginning of the End

One week.

That's all that's left of school but I feel like we're home free because we have only two more days of getting up early. Monday is the last day of regular classes for my girl, and her exemptions work out pretty nicely. Of course, the fact that she has four music classes doesn't hurt! Tuesday is a full day but finals start that day and she doesn't have any. Wednesday through Friday are shortened days for finals, and Wednesday she doesn't have to go in at all. Thursday she just has to show up for orchestra for two hours, and next Friday she has to take her English final, from 11:00 - 1:00.

And then my baby girl will be a high school senior.

Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into the future!!

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Green with Hodgepodge

1. St. Patrick's Day will be celebrated this coming Saturday...what's a favorite article of clothing you own that contains a touch o' the green?

I rarely wear green. In fact, I can't think of anything I have at the moment that has green in it. I've just never particularly cared for it and there aren't many shades that look that good on me.

2. What's a favorite 'green space' in the town, state, or province where you live?

I'm not much of an outdoor person, but I do like being out by the lake in the evening.

3. Do you wish you were taller, shorter, or think you're just about right in the height department?

Just about right, although I used to think I was too tall. I always wanted to be 5' 8", so I was dismayed when I reached 5' 10". But it is convenient to be tall, especially now that osteoporosis is setting in and I'm starting to go the other way!

4. What's the surest way for someone to pick a fight with you?

Mess with my kids.

5. Broccoli-Spinach-String Beans-Peas...of the four, your favorite green veg? (Or the one you dislike the least if that first option's too hard. I just know there's some veggie haters out there.)

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm really starting to like spinach. It's taken me 50 years to get over the canned spinach that my mom fed us! Same thing with asparagus, which I'm surprised Joyce didn't mention. I love roasted or grilled asparagus. SO much better than the canned we had growing up. And on top of that my mom would serve cold, straight from the refrigerator! Blech!!

6. March is National Women's History Month...besides friends, neighbors and the women you're related to, who's a woman in history you admire and why?

I'm going to eliminate the usual answers of certain women in the Bible, because that's pretty much a given. Clara Barton - pioneer in nursing during a horrific time; not only was medical care crude and limited, but nursing was not respected or seen as something a nice woman would do. Lottie Moon - missionary to China - anyone who has spent much time around missions in a Southern Baptist church has probably heard of her; you can find out about her here

7. Keep Calm and ____________on.
You fill in the blank.

. . .and press on.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Enjoying my boy being home from school for Spring Break and missing my girl who is on the other side of the world on a mission trip with 15 other juniors & seniors from our church (plus adults). Can't wait to hear how God moves in and through them this week!

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TSMSS - God of this City

My girl is at the airport this morning getting ready to board a series of flights that will take her to the other side of the world for a much-anticipated mission trip. So excited and happy to see her go, yet the house is already too quiet. This song keeps resonating through my mind as they go to minister in orphanes, slums, jail ministries, and other venues in a city full of darkness.



Visit Amy's for more songs for your weekend.

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Auld Lang Hodgepodge

There's nothing like Christmas break and traveling to get my days all out of whack and make me forget to post the Hodgepodge! Here it is, a few hours late!

1. Share something you loved about your Christmas Day.

The church service at my MIL's church. I love the pastor and his message, as always, was really good. And after he spoke, a man sang O Holy Night like I've never heard it before, and I've heard some great renditions, such as David Phelps and others. This man sang all three verses (something I rarely hear anymore and that was a treat!) , and I hesitate to say he sang them. He interpreted them. Yet there was nothing showy about anything he did in his pauses or his hand gestures as he sang. As the pastor got up to close the service he said, "We have been to church!"

2. You get to put five items in a time capsule to be opened in 100 years, what items would you choose and why?

I don't think time capsules are going to be quite as necessary because of the digital history we already have. Knowing how quickly technology changes, I would probably put in 1) a newspaper, both for the news it contains and the format, 2) a Bible - hopefully, that won't be too much of an unfamiliar item, but I would want it to represent my life today, 3) a telephone - we even still have one with a cord, which will provide lots of puzzled amazement a century from now, 4) a Scrabble game, to show that people did play games face to face across a table and not just online, and 5) a pastry blender, because I still make pie crusts from scratch; they'll probably have no idea what that is! LOL

3. What do you like on a cracker?

Cream cheese with raspberry chipotle sauce.

4. Do you make resolutions at the start of a new year? How'd that work out for you this past year?

Nope.

5. What's a song or song lyric you'll associate with 2011?

Laura Story's Blessings. I love that song and it's message, and I loved getting to interview her!



6. How will you ring in the new year?

Warm and snug in my bed.

7. What is something you look forward to in 2012?

Knowing that God is already there!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Last week my girl had allergy testing and tomorrow she starts allergy shots. She is less than thrilled, although she is hopeful that the result will be less congestion and fewer issues with her voice. I just keep thinking, "as if she weren't busy enough, now we add weekly trips to the doctor for this!"

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Mum's the Word

Next week is Homecoming.

This is the first year that's had any significant meaning in our house. We've been fortunate to escape until now. But my girl is a junior and thrives on all the fun activities that go along with this stage in live. And Homecoming means one thing in Texas.

Now before there was electricity thirty-plus years ago when I was in high school, this was a simple matter. If you had a date to Homecoming, your date ordered you a mum from the local florist. It was big and pretty but wearable. And you ordered him a boutonniere. It might be a bit larger than one, say, for the prom, but it certainly wouldn't have ribbons hanging down. I don't know - maybe some of the football players had garters but I never saw guys wear the "mini-mums" on their arms like you see today. And with exception of maybe the cheerleaders and drill team (that was the name back then of the dance team), no one had multiple corsages that I remember.

I'm not sure hot glue guns had been invented yet. Craft stores like Michael's and Hobby Lobby were certainly not around. It never even occurred to anyone to make a mum.

But now.

My girl and some friends - both girls AND guys - are having a mum-making party tonight. When I took her to Michael's with two of the girls to get the supplies, I thought I was going to hyperventilate or break out in hives or something! I have long stated on this blog that glue guns, glitter, and crafts are evil. Give me something to alphabetize or a spreadsheet to organize data any day! It was overwhelming, to say the least. Ribbons for all the different schools and color-matching trinkets and gizmos and doodads - I don't even know what to call it all! My girl was sensible and is making relatively simple mums for the friends she has on her list, some of which are "little sisters" and such from orchestra, choir, etc., so the total wasn't bad.

But oh my. Just Googling for the picture that I put with this post and looking at what's out there that you can order?! I can't imagine making these things, and folks are paying around $200 for the giant ready-made mums! And the girls have to wear them with a cord like a necklace, and they still make their neck and shoulders ache!

Miscellaneous girls with ginormous mums,
 found on Google Images

I kept seeing reference to this being such a Texas tradition - do y'all have this in other parts of the country? Something tells me this is another thing that's bigger in Texas!

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Watch Your Head!

I had great intentions of posting an interview and giveaway today. Until I took my girl to our doctor first thing yesterday morning. She hit her head really hard getting into our minivan on our last day of vacation, Friday. It seemed to be just one of those quirky things, until ten hours later her headache had not gone away in spite of several rounds of medicine. So late Friday night she and I made a visit to the ER of the hospital where we were, which also happens to be a medical school teaching hospital.

It was a rather frustrating experience, thanks to the rather snarky faculty ER doctor who was a bit dismissive. I guess when you usually see patients from DUI's and bar fights on a Friday night, it's hard to be too impressed by a well-mannered non-dramatic teenage girl. I won't go into all the details, but he could use a little teaching himself before he tries to impart his "wisdom" to the medical students and residents!

Anyway, the headaches worsened over the weekend and so this morning we saw the pediatrician who confirmed that she has a concussion, talked to a neurologist who heads up a concussion clinic at the children's hospital, and sent her home with a prescription ane instructions to lie on the couch in a darkened room until he sees her again Thursday - no TV, no reading, virtually nothing but lying around.

Day 1 has passed and she is already bored beyond belief, heartbroken over missing our church's youth Super Week, and thoroughly sick and tired of having a headache. Last night I read aloud to her for 2 1/2 hours. It's been awhile since we've done that! Good thing we have plenty of books around here!

Prayers are appreciated!

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July's Last Hodgepodge

I've been out of town the last couple of weeks and have missed being part of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. I know I need to post some interviews, but my other sister came to visit and I have had minimal time at the computer. I thought it would be quick to jump in and do this but then I forgot that Joyce always makes me think with her questions! LO




1. July is National Ice Cream month...your favorite flavor? Soft served, hand dipped, or frozen yogurt...which do you prefer? And technically yogurt is not ice cream but its hot outside so I'll let that slide for today.

Well, first of all it has to be Blue Bell. You folks that don't live around here or in some of the southern states are really missing out.

As far as flavors, I love their Moo-llennium Crunch (Classic vanilla ice cream with a combination of dark chocolate chunks, creamy caramel chunks, roasted pecan halves, chopped almonds and walnut pieces), Mocha Almond Fudge, Cookies 'n Cream, and their classic Homemade Vanilla. Oh and Mint Chocolate Chip is always good too.

2. When you travel do you tend to pack too much or too little?

Generally a little too much in the clothing department. I like having some choice in what I wear and not be forced to wear certain things on certain days. And my mom to always take an extra pair of underwear!

3. What's your favorite cleaning product?

Clorox.

4. Which is the greater tragedy-an innocent person imprisoned or a guilty person set free? Explain.

Well, if I am the victim, I would say a guilty person going free! But no, I would always rather err on the side of grace. I can think of few things more devastating and damaging to one's sense of hope than to be innocent and imprisoned.

5. What's the longest trip you've taken by car?

A couple of years ago when we made a big sweep of the Southeast - went through nine states. Slept in five of them.

6. tennis-golf-canoeing-biking...pick one.

Well, Joyce said "pick one" but didn't indicate what for. . . so I'll pick golf to eliminate from the planet. And to watch it on TV just boggles my mind.

7. What sound drives you crazy?

Fingernails on a chalkboard, of course. And smacking gum or food.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I need ideas for a fun, memorable, yet relatively inexpensive (and easy on the mom's time and energy level!) way to celebrate a girl's 16th birthday with her friends. Suggestios?



BTW, If you didn't get a chance, be sure to read my girl's inaugural book review on yesterday's post!

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Perfectly Invisible - A Guest Review

Life was so crazy busy when I got the invitation to review Perfectly Dateless by Kristin Billerbeck that I knew I wouldn't have a chance to read it. However, I also knew my girl would be mightily perturbed if I passed up a YA novel! When the publicist suggested that perhaps my girl could write a guest review, it seemed like the perfect solution. My girl agreed but was a little intimidated by the idea. I thought she did a marvelous job; of course I am just a tad biased! The only thing I adjusted in her thoughts (following the book summary and author bio) was italicizing the title of the book. Everything else is exactly as she emailed it to me.

I'm thinking it's a good thing she doesn't have the password to this blog!

Perfectly Invisible
A Universally Misunderstood Novel
Kristin Billerbeck
(Revell)
ISBN: 978-0-8007-1973-9
July, 2011/272 pages/$9.99

Life after high school is so close . . . and yet so very far away.

It's Daisy Crispin's final semester of high school, and she plans to make it count. Her long-awaited freedom is mere months away, and her big plans for college loom in the future. Everything is under control.

Or is it?

Her boyfriend is treating her like she's invisible, and her best friend is making her sell bad costume jewelry in the school quad--and hanging out with her boyfriend. To top it off, Daisy's major humiliation of the year will be remembered in the yearbook for all eternity. It's enough to make her wonder if maybe being invisible isn't so bad after all.

Can Daisy get her life back on track? Or is she stuck in this town forever?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kristin Billerbeck is the bestselling, award-winning author of several novels, including What a Girl Wants and Perfectly Dateless. A Christy Award finalist and two-time winner of the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year, Billerbeck has appeared on The Today Show and has been featured in the New York Times. She lives with her family in northern California.


MY GIRL'S THOUGHTS:
Perfectly Invisible is an amazing book. Kristin Billerbeck took everyday situations, such as mean girls and over-protective parents, and dramatized them a little to create a gripping read. From a car on the school roof to her best friend kissing her boyfriend, Daisy Crispin struggles through her final year of high school and manages to find herself, and her humility, in the process. This book kept me reading all day and I couldn’t put it down. I was very sad when I finished the last page but very content with how Billerbeck created so many plot twists and still managed to finish the book up without leaving any gaps in plot. This is a must read for teenage girls everywhere!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my daughter's own opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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The Agony of De-Feet

I mentioned yesterday that my girl has been at a a state choir camp at a small private university in Houston this week while my boy and I were at Texas A&M for his New Student Conference. The camp was excellent and she wanted to find out more about the school as a possibility for college.

So I made the appointments and yesterday afternoon we met with an admissions counselor. And then, of course, they gave us The Tour.

How is it that I ended up walking around another college campus when my feet and legs were still in full protest mode after the previous two days at A&M?!

Fortunately, this was a much smaller campus and the counselor just pointed out a couple of buildings rather than taking us to them.

Still.

Aleve is my new best friend. I actually look forward to the drive back home later today. If you see me at the grocery store tomorrow, I'll be the one leaning on my cart for support.

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Finally! It's REALLY Summer!

Today at noon, my girl finally gets a break from school.

Oh, our school year ended on Friday, May 27. But she decided to take a dual-credit course offered by the local community college at her high school. She could take her entire year of American History in five weeks of summer and get college credit as well as her high school credit.

Not taking history this next year will free up her schedule and lighten her homework load so that she can take yet another music class and be in an ensemble, which will involve performances outside of school.

Let's see, that makes four music classes in her schedule: Orchestra, Choir, Ensemble, and AP Music Theory.

(It really cramps her style to have to squeeze in English, Spanish, Physics, and Pre-Calculus!)

Her regular classes ended on a Friday, she had Memorial Day weekend off, and immediately started this class on the following Tuesday. So it's been a bit of a long haul for her. She's thrilled to be done with getting up at 7:00 am every morning and having to read, read, read a history textbook every night. As for me, I'm perfectly happy not to be dressed and out the door every morning a little after 8:00 to take her!

It's July 1 - NOW it's summer!

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